Can opener



Dec. 1, 1931.

P. c. wE sT CAN OPNER Filed Nov. 1s,

1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. C. WEST CAN OPENER l, wl Illlllllllllll- Patented' Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESTON C. WEST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 P. C. WEST MFG. CO. INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CAN orENER Application led November My invention v'relates to can openers and particularly to that type adapted to be applied to-the bead of a can and adapted while being held manually in position to cut 'the top out of the can inside the bead. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide in a construction of this type means for cutting the top at its extreme outer edge just inside of the bead, and for smoothing the cut edge down into tight contact with the wall of the can below thebead.

It is another' object of my invention toprovide a device of this kind comprising a tongs device upon which the cutter and its cooperating part are mounted, being so arranged that the cutter is' moved out of operative position when theI handle members are pressed together. It is still another object of my invention to provide spring means for holding the cutter in operative position, so arranged that under normal conditions the cutter is pressed with the desired force against the tin being cut regardless -of what the thickness of the tin or the thickness of the bead may be. and that when the cutter comes into contact with the seam at the side of the can the cut-teryields readily in order to pass.

It is another object of my invention to improve the driving means for devices of this type whereby the roller whlch engages the outer face of the bead of the can is rotated positively from the driving means for the cut-ter and the roller engaging the inside face of the bead for moving the tin into operative relation to the cutter by the rotation of the can as a whole, and whereby all of such parts are driven preferably by a suitable motor which is mounted in position so as to be substantially balanced on the opposite side of the handle from that at which the cutter and its cooperating parts are located.

It is another object of my invention to pro vide improved gripping means adapted by engagement with the bead of a can to hold the cutter in proper angular position for operation, and to provide a support for the device adapted by contart with the bead at a point spaced a short distance fromthe cutter and the gripping means to maintain the operative position of the devlce.

16, 1925. 'serial No. 69,213.

It is another object of my invention to improve the cutter and the cooperating parts which hold the tin in position for cutting, the arrangement being such that the tin is irst pressed into the shape of al groove at the bottom of which pressure is then applied by the cutter for tearing the tin rather than for cutting it by a shearing operation.

A further object of my invention is the. provision of a. device so constructed that in its operation of cutting out a can top it will flare outwardly the upper end .of the can walls thereby facilitating rea-dy removal of the contents of the can in whole pieces, this result being particularly desirable with such tender food products as asparagus tips, sardines, etc.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device so constructed that it will serveboth for handling a. can and for cutting out lthe top of the can. To this end,

I provide suitable handle means in combi' nation with the other parts, all so arranged that a can may be held and manipulated before, during and after the cutting operation, thus making it possible to pick up a can,

the contents of which have been heated or chilled, cut out the top and then serve the food directly from the can.

It is another object of my invention to im prove devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and is hereinafter specifically described.' That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by this application is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings- A Fig. 1 is a face view of nay-improved deviceI partly broken away, and with a portion the housing for the driving mechanism removed;V

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. l, but with the entire housing for the driving mechanism removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, being substantially a vertical cross-section taken at line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged.

scale, showing the cutter and the cooperating roller in operative position on the bead of a can which is shown in vertical cross-section; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. but showin a modified form of construction.

Ieferring now particularlyv to Figs. 1 to 4, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the samereference characters,-10l and 11 indicatethe bars of a tongs device which are pivotally connected together by* means of a pin 12, the bars 10 and 11 being arranged in parallel relation rather than 1n crossed relation, so that when the handle portion 13 of the bar 10 is pressed toward the bar 11 the opposite ends of the bars are moved away from each other. In the construction shown, the bars 10 and 11 are made of sheet metal bent into channel form, in the handle portion 13 of the bar l10 the channel being extended at its edges into tubular form.

In the short end of the arm 10, I have mounted a bushin 14 which is held in position by a pin 15, te bushing 14 serving as a spacing block between the flange portions of the end of the handle, as is best shown in Fig. 2. Upon the outer end of the pin or shaft 15, I have mounted a housing comprising members 16 and 17 held together by a plurality of bolts 18, the member 16 being revolubly mounted with respect to the shaft so that the housing is supported by said shaft. Upon the end of the shaft 1 5 within the. housing, I have provided a worm gear 19 keyed in position. At the' upper edge of the housing I havemounted a worm 20 meshing with the worm gear 19, such worm being mounted upon the end of a shaft 21. The shaft 21 extends through an opening 22 in the wall of the handle member 1() so as to pass through the tubular handle portion 13, being connected at its end portion with the drive shaft of an electric motor 23 which is mounted by means of arms 24 upon the said handle portion 13. The arrangement is such that when the motor 23 operates power is transmitted from the motor to the shaft 15 for driving it.

In the short end of the bar 11, I have mounted a pin or shaft 25 which holds in position a sleeve or bushing 26 acting as a spacing block. The shaft 25 is operatively connected with the 'shaft 15 by means of gears 27 and 28 keyed upon the shafts respectively, ythe gear 28 being mounted between the bar 10 and the housing member 16, as is best shown in Fig. 3.

As is best shown -in Fig. 3, the shaft 15 is provided at one end with a roller 29 rigidly mounted thereon, and a rotary cutter 30 is mounted upon such roller, being held in position through the medium of the pin or shaft 15 which is provided upon its outer end with a head 31 for holding the cutter in position. Upon the pin or shaft 25 in position opposite the roller 29 I have provided aroller 32 which is formed integrally with the shaft 25 or is otherwise secured thereto by any suitable means.

About the pin 12 which connects the bars 10 and 11 of my tongs device, I have mounted a strong spring 33, the end portions of which bear against the web portions of the bars 10 and l1, as is best shown in Fig. 1, serving to hold the handle portion 13 yieldingly at the limit of its movement away from the bar 11. v

When the can opener is to be applied to a can, such as the can 34 illustrated fragmentarily in Fig. 4, such lcan comprising a bead portion 35 extending'upwardly a short distance beyond the plate portion 36 constituting the top7 of the cam-the operator grasps the handle 13 of the bar 10, together with the oppositely disposed portion of the bar 1l. Upon pressing the bars toward each other against the action ofthe spring 33, the roller 29 and cutter 30 are moved away from the roller 32 so as to permit the device to be applied to the can with the roller 29 in contact with the inner face of the bead 35 near its top portion and with the roller 32 in engagement with the outer face of the bead near its lower edge, the rollers 29 and 32 serving by such engagement to hold the cutter 3() in oblique position withrespect to the can, all as best shown in Fig. 4. When power is applied to the shafts l5 and 25 for rotating the cutter 30 and the rollers, the rollers bear frictionally upon the bead 35 for' causing the can to be moved with respect to the cutter, serving to bring the cutter into contact with the top of the can about its extreme outer edge in close proximity to the inner face of the bead. At the beginning of .the rotary movement of the cutter and the movement of the can with respect to the cutter, the cutter 30 penetrates the tin, as indicated in Fig. 4, if such penetration has not taken place upon the application'of the device and before the rotation is started. As the can is rotated with respect to the operating parts, the cutter 30 serves to cut the top out of the can so as to be ready for easy removal.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, the roller 29 engages the inner face of the bead in approximately the'lowest permissible position of lthe roller unless the roller is permitted to more toward the right in said Fig. 4. The roller 32 engages the bottom portion of the bead at its outer face in approximately the highest position permissible, unless the roller is to be permitted to move toward the left in said Fig. 4. As a result of ythis construction, the tongs device is adapted to grip the bead and to hold the can very firmly in position. For assisting in holding the device in position I have provided an arm 37 extending in oblique position with respect to the axes about which the cutter and the rollers revolve, which arm engages the top edge of the bead 35 at a short distance from the cutter30, such arm 37 being preferably formed integrally with the bar l0. In the normal position of the device u on the can, the arm 37 bears flatly against t e topedge of the bead. y

As is clearly shown in Fig. 3, the roller 32 is provided with a groove 38 at the point opposite the cutter 30, such groove being adapted to relieve the edge of the cutter 30 when the device is not in position upon a can, the contact of the bars 1() and 11 with each other as indicated in Fig. 3 being adapted to limit the movement of the cutter 30 toward the roll When the device is in osition upon a can, the end of the roller 32, y contact with the outer face of the Wall of the can, acts as a stop with respect to any possible twisting tendency of the device about a horizontal axis, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

ln operation, the edge of the cutter 30 eX- tends through the cut or tear of the tin at the point Where the top 36 is severed fromY the head, the extreme edge of the cutter being adapted normally to come in contact with the inner face of the Wall of the can so as to bulge the metal outwardly to a slight eX- tent and so as to score the face of the wall very lightly as indicated by' the line 39 1n said Fig. 4. The proportions of the parts are such, however, that the cutter is prevented from severing the metal at this point.

ln the ordinary use of my device, the cutter 30 cuts the top substantially at the inner face of the bead, but at such a distance there- .from that there is a very narrow strip of the top 36 which is not severed from the can. This narrow strip which before the cutting operation stands in transverse position is pressed down into vertically extending position in close, smooth and even contact with the inner face of the wall of the can, with the result that the inner fac'e of the can when the top 36 is removed is perfectly smooth and without projecting edges which might be like.- ly to cut the hands of the operator, to interfere with the easy removal of the contents of the can, or to tear or disfigure the contents when being removed.`

No support of any kind is provided by my improved device-for the bottom face of the tin at the point where the cutter is operating, so that a shearing cutis not possible. On the contrary, the metal of the top 36 is first l pressed down into theform of a groove slightresult that the cut-out portion of the top 36 is capable of readyrremoval from the can.

v When the device is in position on a can,

the cutter 30 and the rollers 29 and 32 are held in operative position solel b the force of the spring 33, the action o w ich is'entirely automatic so as to leave nothing to either the skill or the judgment of the'operator. The result is that either. the roller 29 or the roller 32 is adaptedv to yield readily for permitting the device to pass the vertically disposed seam yat one side of the can. Also by reason of this spring tensioning of the gripping means, the dev1ce is adapted to operate to advantage upon different thicknesses of tin and upon cans in kwhich the size of a bead 35 varies to a considerable extent in either depth or thickness. v

By the use of the positive drive of the shaft 25 and the roller 32'from the shaft 15 through the medium of the gears 27 and 28, I have provided -positively-operating` means for turning Ythe can with respect to the cutter whereby the operation of the device is made much more sure and satisfactory. At the same time, the device as a whole is kept fairly light and capable of being handled easily. In the preferred operation of the device,af ter the rollers are applied into gripping position upon the bead, the operator releases the bar 11 and steadies the device and the vcan by the use of the handle 13 by itself, so that no pressure shall be applied upon the bar ll against the action of the spring 33. The po- `sition of the motor 23 at the end of the arm or bar ll() at'the opposite side of the handle 13 from that at which the operating devices are located insures that the parts shall be substantially balanced so that the device is very easily held in position for operation.

By providing rollers of the formation shown in Fig. 4, engaging the bead on the inside at its upper edge and on the outside at .its lower edge, and each provided with a curved surface portion serving in ei'ect as a shoulder for limiting the vertical movement of the rollerwith respect to'the bead, and by positioning the cutter 30 so that its contact with the top 36 comes below the point of 60ntact of the roller 32 on the outer face of the body, I have provided for a very secure gripping of the can by the device. The grip of the device on the can is such that it may safe- .ly be used as a handle for lifting the can after the top is removed, making the device thus particularly useful for opening and emptying cans wh1ch, are heated prior to the opening operation.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, the. face of the cutter 30 adjacent to the roller 29 is beveled slightly at its outer edge, while the other CTI face is beveled considerably more. The beveling of the cutter is important with respect to the proper cooperation of thecutter with the remaining parts, the beveling of the faceadjacent to the bead 35 being particularly important for preventing thecutter from cuttino` through the bead or climbing up the face of the bead ata point of curvature. I have found in practice that by the use of the means as shown in Fig. 4 the device is enabled to operate very satlsfactorily on any of the ordinary types of can on the market in which an upstanding bead is provided,'and including the sardine can type. By reason of the fact that the obliquely positioned cutter extends under the edge of the bead Where it is cut and into close proximity to a portion of the roller 32 but on the opposite face of the side Wall of the can, the device is held very firmly in position on the bead.

' Referring nonT to Fig. 5, in which a modified form of construction is shown, corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters. In this construction the shaft 15 has mounted thereon a crank handle 40 by which the cutter 30 and the gripping rollers 29 and 32 are driven in lieu of the motor 23 and the transmission mechanism connecting the motor with said shaft. lVith the device held in position by the left hand of the opel'ator grasping the handle 13, the operator can very easily turn the shaft 15 by the use of the crank 40, a few turns of the crank being sufiicient for cutting the top from a can.

Vthile I prefer to employ the construction as illustrated in my drawings and as above described, it Will be understood thatfI do not Wish to limit myself to the precise form shown except as the same maybe hereinafter specifically claimed, inasmuch as it is evident that changes may Well be made in the construction and arrangement Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar of which said cutter is revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cutter, means carried bythe respective bars of the tongs device for gripping a can for holding the cutter in operative position, and a spring for holding said gripping means in operative relation.

2. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar of which said cutter is revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cut-ter, means carried by the respective bars of the tongs device for lgripping a can for holding the cutter in operative position and adapted to be loosened on the can When the bars of the tongs device are pressed toward each other, and a spring for holding said barsa yieldingly at the limit of their movement away from each other.

3. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar of which said cutter is revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cutter, and positively driven rollers carried by the respective bars of the tongs device adapted by engagement with opposite faces of a part of a can toliold the can in operative position and to give the cutter and the can a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can, the bars of said tongs devlce being so arranged that when the bars are pressed toward each other the said rollers are loosened with respect to the can.

4. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar of which said cutter is revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cutter, means carried bythe respective bars of the ton-gsdevice for gripping a can for holding the cutter in operatlve position, and a spring for holding said gripping means in operative relation, the bars of said tongs device being so arranged that when the bars are pressed toward each other against the action of said spring the device is loosened with ,respect to the can.

5. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar of which said cutter 1s revolubly mounted, means for rotating vthe cutter, positively driven rollers carried by the respective bars of the tongs device adapted by engagement With opposite faces of a part of the can to hold the cutter in operative position and to give the cutter and the can a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can, and a springifor holding the bars of the tongs device in position for maintaining the rollers in gripping engagement with the can, the said bars of the tongs device being so arranged that When the bars are pressed to- Ward each other against the action of the spring the rollers are loosened with respect to the can.

6. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar of which said cutter is revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cutter, means carried by the respective bars of the tongs device for gripping a can for holding-the cutter in operative engagement with the -top of the can inside of the bead` a spring for holding the bars of the tongs device yieldingly in position for maintaining the grip on the can, and means for giving the cutter and the can arelative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can.

7. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar of which said cutter is revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cutter, positively driven rollers carried by the respective bars of the tongs device adapted by engagement with oppositeV faces of a part of the can to hold the cutter in operative position engaging the top of the can and adapted by their rotation to give the cutter and the can a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top from the can, and a spring for holding the bars of the tongs demovement for causing the cutter to cut ther top out of the can, and a springfor holdlng 8. A can'opener, comprising a cutter, a`

tongs device on one bar of which vsaid cutter is revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cutter, positivelydriven rollers carried by the respective bars of the tongs device adapted by engagement with opposite faces of a part of the can to hold the cutter in operative position engagingthe top of the can inside of the bead and adapted by their rotation to give the cutter and the can a relative the bars ofthe tongs device yieldingly in po'- sition for maintaining the grip of the rollers on the can.

9. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a supporting member on which saidcutter is revolubly mounted, a. handle` by which said supporting memberlmay be held manually with the cutter in oblique position above the can operatively engaging the top of the can inside of the bead, means for rotating the cutter, positively driven roller means engaging opposite faces ofa part of the can for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can and also serving by their engagement with the can to assist in holding the cutter in operative position, and a spring for holding the rollers yieldingly in operative engagement with the can but adapted to yield to accommodate irregularities in the proportions of the engaged part of the can.

10. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a

, tongs device on one bar 'of which said cutter Y hold the cutter in oblique position engaging the top .of the can inside of the bead, means for giving the cutter and the can a relative movement for causing theI cutter to cut the top out of the can, and a spring'for holding the bars of the tongs device yieldingly in position for maintaining the grip of the rollers on the can.

11. A can opener` comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar of which said cutter is revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cutter, rollers carried by the respective bars of the tongs device adapted to be separated by the action of the tongs device for receiving between them the bead of a can and adapted by engagement with the opposite faces of said bead to hold the cutter in oblique position engaging the top of the can inside of the bead in close proximity to the inner' face thereof, means for pressing the rollers against said bead. and means for positively driving said rollers in unison with said cutter for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out gf the can.

12. A can opener, comprising acutter, a

tongs Adevice on one bar of which said cutteris revolubly mounted, means for rotating the cutter, rollers carried by the respective bars of the tongs device adapted by engagement with the opposite faces of the bead of the can .to hold the cutter in oblique position engaging the top of the can inside of the bead in close proximity to the inner face thereof,-

means for positively driving said rollers in unison with said cutter for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for caustongs device yieldingly in position for maintaining the grip of the rollers upon the bead. 13. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a supporting member on which said cutter is revolubly mounted, a handle by Which said supporting member may be held manually with the cutterv in operative position with respect to a can, a motor', means driven by the motor for rotating the cutter, and other means driven by the vmotor adapted in cooperation with said cutter to give the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter, to cut the top frcm'the can.

14. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a bar on which said cutter is'revolubly mounted, a handle by Which said bar may be held manually with the cutter in operative position vvitli respect to a can, a motor mounted on said bar on the opposite side of the handle from that at which said cutter is located and so arranged that the parts are substantially balanced on opposite sides of the handle, means driven by the motor for rotating the cutter, and other means driven by the motor and Vcooperating with the cutter for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top from the can. 15. A can opener, comprising a shaft, a cutter mounted on said shaft, a supporting member on which said shaft is journalled, a handle by which said supporting member may. be held manually With the cutter in operatlve position with respect to a can, a motor mounted on said supporting member, a Worm gear mounted on said shaft, a Worm mounted on the motor shaft in position to mesh with said Worm gear,`and means driven by said first named shaft for giving the 'can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top from the can.

16. A can opener, comprising a shaft, a cutter mounted on said shaft, a vbar on which said shaft is journalled, a handle by which said bar may be held manually with the cutter in operative position with respect to a can, a inotormounted on said bar, a worm gear mounted on said shaft, a housing mounted on said shaft and surrounding said Worm gear, a worm mounted within said housing on the motor shaft in position to mesh with said worm gear, and means driven by said first named shaft for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top from the can, said worm by its engagement with the housing being adapted to lhold the housingin fixed position.

17. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a tongs device on one bar'of which said cutter is revolubly mounted, rollers carried by the bars of said tongs device adapted by engagement with the opposite faces of the bead of a can to hold the cutter in close proximity to the inner face of said bead, a spring for holding said bars yieldingly in position for main.

taining the rollers in gripping engagement with the bead, and means for rotating said cutter and said rollers for giving the cutter and the can a relative movement, serving to cause the cutter to cut the top out of the can and tosmooth down against the inside wall of the can any remaining portion of the top which before the cutting operation stood normally in transversely extending position.

18. A can opener, comprising a cutter, rollers adapted by engagement with opposite faces of the bead of the can to hold the cutter in oblique position above the can in close proximity to the inner face of the bead, means for rotating the cutter, means for rotating said rollers for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to out the top out of the can and to vsmooth down against the inside wall of the can any remaining portion of the top which before the cutting operation stood normally in transversely extending position, and a spring for holding said rollers yieldingly in gripping engagement with said bead.

19. A can opener, comprising a roller adapted to engage the inner face of the bead of a can near its upper edge and extending over said bead, a second roller adapted toengage the outer face of the bead near its lower edge and extending under the bead, means for holding said rollers in operative position to grip said bead, a cutter held by said rollers in operative position with respect to the can for cutting the top from the can along a line adjacent to the inner face of the bead, and means for rotating the cutter andithe rollers for giving the cutter and the can alrelative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top from the can.

20. A can opener, comprising a roller adapted to engage the inner face of the bead of a can near its upper edge and having a portion overlying the bead adapted to lilnit the downward movement of the roller, a second roller adapted to engage the outer face of the bead near its lower edge and having a portion extending under the bead adapted to limit the upward movement of said second roller, means for holding the rollers in gripping position on the bead so as to prevent angular movement of the bead Wlth respect to the rollers, means orrotating the rollers for moving the can with respect thereto, and means adapted upon such relative movement to cut the top from the can.

21. A can opener, comprising rollers adapted to engage opposite faces of the bead of a can, a cutter inposition Ato engage the top of the can adjacent to said rollers, a

spring for pressing said rollers toward each top of the can inside of the bead, and means Y for giving the cutter and the can a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can,the cutter being provided with a wide beveled edge portion at the face thereof removed from the bead and with a comparatively narrow beveled edge portion at the face adjacent to the bead.

23. A can opener, comprising in combination a cutter, a supporting element on which said cutter is revolubly mounted, a second supporting element movably mounted with respect to said first named' supporting element, a roller revolubly mounted on said second supporting element adapted to engage the outer face of the bead oi a can near its lower edge and to engage the outer face of the wall of the can below the bead in close proximity thereto, a second roller revolubly mounted on said first named supporting element adjacent to said cutter adapted to engage the inner face of the bead near its upper edge and adapted thereby to hold the supporting elements and the cutter rmly in position angularly with respect to the bead, means for rotating the rollers for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to out the top out of' the can, and a spring for holding the supporting elements effectively in position to maintain the grip of the rollers on the can.

24. lA can opener, comprising in combination a cutter, a supporting element on which said cutter is revolubly mounted, a second supporting element movably mounted with respect to said first named supporting element, rollers carried by said supporting elements respectively adapted by engagement with opposite faces of the bead of a can to hold the cutter firmly in oblique position engaging the top of the can inside of the bead, the lower roller being positioned to support the outer wall of the can both above and below the cutter in close proximity thereto and having a groove thereabout opposite the edge-of the cutter, means for rotating the rollers for giving the can andthe cutter a. relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can, and a spring for holding the supporting elements effectively in position to maintain the grip of the rollers on the can.

25. A can opener comprising a handle, an arm articulately connected to-said handle, cooperating elements consisting of a disk journaled on said handle and a feeding wheel journaled on said arm and adapted to cooperate with said cutting disk, to frictionally grip the can, a spring of sufficient strength to effect a penetration of the can Wall and maintain the cuting disk in operative relation to the wheel during the cutting operation and means to rotate one of said cooperating elements.

26. A can opener, comprising a cutter, a supporting member on which said cutter is revolubly mounted, a second supporting member movably mounted with respect to said first named supporting member, rollers carried by said supporting members adapted by engagement with opposite faces of the bead of a can to hold the cutter in oblique -position engaging the top of the can inside of the bead, means for rotating said rollers for giving the can andthe cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can, and a spring for holding the supporting members effectively in position to maintain the grip of the rollers on the can.

27. A can opener, comprising in combination a frame member, a motor mounted 0n said frame member, a supporting member movably mounted on said frame member, a cutter revolubly mounted on one of said members, roller means revolubly mounted on 'the other of said members adapted by cooperation with said cutter to hold a can in operative position with respect to the cutter, and means actuated by said motor for driving both said roller means and said cutter serving to give the cutter and the can a relative respect to one of said shafts, a roller nonof a can, and means actuated by said motor.

rotatably mounted with respect to the other of said shafts, means for moving one'of said shafts toward the other for bringing the cutter and the roller into operative gripping engagement with opposite faces of a portion for driving both of said shafts serving to give the cutter and the can a relative movement for cutting the top from the can.

29. A can o ener, comprising in combination a roller a a-pted to engage the inner face of the bead of a can, a second roller adapted to engage the outer face of the bead and .f

having a portion extending into engagement with the outer face of the can below said-bead, a cutter held by said rollers when tightened on said bead in position to engage the top of the can adjacent'to said/bead on the inner face thereof, means' for holding the rollers in tightened gripping position on the bead, and means for rotating the rollers for moving the can with respect to the cutter serving to cut the top from the can, said rollers being so shapedand arrangedthat upon said cutting operation the upperl end portion of the'can is dared outwardly.

30. A can opener, comprising in combina tion a supporting member, a cutter revolubly mounted on said member, a second supportmg member movably mounted with respect to said first named supporting member, a roller revolubly mounted on said first named supporting member adapted to engage' the lnner face of the bead of a can near its upper edge and having a portion overlying the bead adapted to limit the downward movement of the roller, a second roller revolubly mounted on said second supporting member adapted to engage the outer face of the bead adjacent to said first named roller and having a portion extending under the bead adapted to limit the upward movement of the second roller and extending into engagement with the outer face of the can below said cutter tending when the rollers are tightened in position on the bead to bend the wall of the can outwardly at its upper end portion, means for holding the rollers in tightened gripping position on the bead so as to prevent angular movement of the bead with respect to the rollers, and means for rotating said rollers for moving the can with respect to the cutter serving to cut the top from the can and to flare the upper end portion of the can.

31. A device adapted to serve both for handling a can and for cutting the top out of the can, comprising, in combination, a cutter, a supporting memberpon which said cutterv is revolubly mounted, a' second supporting member movably mounted with respect to said first namedsupporting member, rollers carried by said .supporting members adaptedby engagement with opposite faces of the bead ofa can to hold the cutter in oblique position engaging the top of the can inside of the bead, means for rotating said rollers for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can, a spring for holding the supporting members effectively in position to maintain the grip of the rollers on the can, and handle means operatively connected with said supporting members for holding and manipulating thecan before, during and after the cutting operation.

32. A device adapted to serve both for handling a can and for cutting the top out of the can, comprisinggin combination, a, cutter, a supporting element on which said cutter is revolubly mounted, a second supporting element movably mounted with respect to said first named supporting element, a roller revolubly mounted on said second supporting element adapted to engage the outer face of the bead of a, can near its lower edge and to engage the outer face of the Wall of the can below the bead in close proximity thereto, a second roller revolubly mounted on said first named supporting element-adj acent to said cutter adapted to engage the inner face of the bead near its upper edge and adapted thereby to hold the supporting elements and the cutter firmly in position angu-l larly with respect to the bead, means for rotating the rollers for giving the can and the cutter a relative movement for causing the cutter to cut the top out of the can, a spring for holding' the supporting elements electively in position to maintain the grip of the rollers on the can, and handle means operatively connected With said supporting elements for holding and manipulating the can before, during and after the cutting operation.

PRESTON C. WEST. 

